Communications device



y 1944- A. L. SPRECKER 2,348,158

COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE Filed Oct. 13, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet l 5 IN VgN TOR ATTORNEY May 2, 1944- A. L. SPRECKER COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE File d Oct. 13, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 a}! N VEN TOR.

A TTORNEY.

May 2, 1944. A. L. SPRECKER COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE I Filed Oct. 13, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 VE N TOR A 'TTORNEY May 2, 1944. A. L. SPRECKER COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 13, 1941 OFVVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Filed Oct. 13, 1941 Res 6 I ML v:

/75 2 F 124% r U m 4 R5 '3 o I w l v: W56

INVENTOR A TTOHNEY 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 y 1944- A. L. SPRECKER 2,348,158

COMMUNI CAT IONS DEVI CE Filed Oct. 13, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 F|G.10. m

(2) so TU 7 (3) ss TU 7 (4) w.ss TU 7 (5) 55 TU 7 M (6) 55 TU 7 W (7) as TU 7 (s) 17 TU 7 ()3) n TU 7 (I6) 11 TU 7 (18) u TU 7 (21) F0 TU 7 (22) FF TU 7 (23) SF u 7' (24) 5s TU 7 (25) 55 TU 7 2 (26) 55 TU 7 (27) w 55 TU 7' (28) w 55 TU 7 (29) w 55 TU 7 (a7) 17 TU 7 (32) w u Tu 7 (a3) 04 TU 7 (35) 10 TU 7 i (36) 11 TU 7 INVENTOR (a7) 31 TU 7 'BYI/XXW Patented May 2,, i i T UNITE 2,348,158 DOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE Alfred L. Sprocket, Frceport, N. Y., assignmto international Business Machines Corporation, New York. N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 13, 1941, Serial No. 414,817

13 Claims.

This invention relates to systems of signal intercommunication between nautical vessels and between departments of a single vessel, and more specifically to a recording device for recording automatically the pertinent data normally in volved in such intercommunica The instant invention in its present embodiment provides for a machine to record the time and the fact of (1) Each engine order transmitted over the ships telegraph from the bridge or pilot house to the engine room;

(2) Each engine order repeated back. over the telegraph from the engine room to the bridge or pilot house;

(3) Each blast of the whistle;

(4) Each opening and each closing of a nota-= tion hatch giving access to space for written information on the record tape.

Information relative to the operation of the vessel is always required following an emergency for the settlement of disputes, claims, lawsuits, etc. It is available now in the form of manual entries in memorandum books and ships logs, and there always arise the questions of accuracy of records and reliability of witnesses.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a time recording device in which all orders transmitted over a ships telegraph are automatically and permanently registered.

It is a further object of this invention to pro-- vide a time recording device which automatically prints the status of the ship's engine room orders, and acknowledgments thereof, whenever a new order or acknowledgment is transmitted over the ships telegraph.

Another object is to provide a time recording device which automatically prints the status of the ships engine room orders, and acknowledgments thereof, whenever the ships signalling whistle is sounded, along with a registration of the latter,

A still further object of this invention is to furnish a time recording device having a manual entry provision, the status of the engine room orders, and acknowledgments thereof, being automatically printed at the time such manual entries are made.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the recorder.

Fig. 2 shows the typewheel segment carrying the symbol W for whistle records.

Fig. 3 is a section through the notation hatch at b-b of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows typewheels, printing mechanism and paper feed as seen in section through M of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the positioning motors,

typewheel assembly and record tape as seen in In Fig. 1, i is a plastic window through which a portion of the printed r'cord may be seen. 2 is the notation hatch cover.

Referring to Fig. 3, the opening of the notation hatch cover 2 by means of the knob 3 exposes a portion of the right hand edge of the record tape 4 for making entries of information in writing. The cover is fixed to shaft 5 which is journaled at E and is normally held in a closed position by spring l. Fixed to shaft 5 isa cam B which closes contacts 9 as the cover is opened but allows them to open again when the cover has been opened sufficiently to permit writin on the record tape. When the cover is closed, contacts 9 are closed and reopened again by cam 8 as it returns to its normal or closed position. Each time contacts ll are closed, the printing mechanism is actuated, as will be described hereinafter, and a record printed on the paper tape. Hence, a record is printed when the hatch is opened and also when it is closed. Each time a record is printed, the record tape is moved forward. If the amount of tape exposed is insufllcient for the notation to be made, additional tape may be fed into position by closing the hatch and reopening it.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 4., it will be noted that Fig. 2 shows an enlarged view of the whistle symbol typewheel segment Ill journaled on shaft i l but concealed in Fig. 4 by the typewheel assembly. Segment i0 i connected by link l2 to lever l3 fixed to armature M which is pivoted at 85. Fixed to the opposite end of armature it is a lever it. When armature i4 is att acted by winding H, segment Ill is rotated clockwise bringing the symbol W I! into printing position, and at the same time lever 16 moves contact I! away from contact and against contact 2|. The printing mechanism is actuated in a manner to be described later, and a record is printed on the paper tape. The circuit to winding H is closed while the whistle is sounding under the control of a pressure-operated diaphragm ID (Fig. 9) installed in the ,whistle pipe ll between the valve 12 and the whistle 13. The diaphragm 13 actuates contacts 14 under steam pressure.

Since the diaphragm I0 is provided to operate to close contacts I4 only when sufiicient pressure is furnished to the whistle 13 to cause the latter to sound a warning signal, a whistle record is provided every time the whistle is sounded. No record is therefore printed unless an audible signal is produced by the whistle. 1

Referring to Fig. 7, a dial 22 of a conventional mechanical ships telegraph is shown with the customary nine orders indicated on it. i. (2., stop; stand by; finished with engines; slow, half and full ahead; slow, half and full astern. The outer pointer 24 is fixed to the handle 23 and moves with it. The inner pointer is moved by the operation of a handle similar to 23 on another telegraph located at the other end of the signalling system. The motion of handle 23 (assuming that the unit shown in Fig. 7 is located on the ships bridge) causes a pointer similar to pointer 25 o the engine room telegraph to move. An order transmitted by moving pointer 24 to the indication representing the order desired. The order is acknowledged by moving the handle of the engine room telegraph so that its at tached pointer coincides with the position of the inner pointer. Since pointer 25 of the bridge telegraph follows the motion of the handle of the engine room telegraph, the order sent from bridge to engine room is thus repeated back to the bridge and its receipt in the engine room verified.

Brush 26 of commutator 21 (see Fig. 7) is geared to the shaft on which handle 23 is fixed. causing the brush 26 to move across the contacts 28 in synchronism with the movement of pointer 24 across the orders printed on the telegraph dial. The commutator 2! controls the operation of an Elsbert positioning motor 29 (see Fig. 5) which rotates step by step in agreement with the motion of the commutator in either direction, traveling one twenty-fourth of a revolution for each brush change from one contact to the adjacent one. The Elsbert motor 29 is connected by a universal coupling 30 to sleeve 3| on which are fixed a notched whee132 and spur gear 33. Spur gear 33 is connected .by idler 34, shaft 35 and idler 36 to spur gear 31 fixed to order symbol wheel 38. The Elsbert motor thus rotates the order symbol wheel 38 clockwise or counterclockwise in synchronism with the movement oi. handie 23 of the telegraph located on the bridge. keeping in printing position a symbol corre" sponding to the order indicated. by pointer 24. An identical arrangement of the commutator, positioning motor and gearing moves the order symbol wheel 39 (see Fig. 5) to keep in printing position a symbol corresponding to the order indicatod by the pointer fixed to the operating handle of the engine room telegraph and by ointer 25 on the bridge telegraph.

Ai achod to the l-ncl of contact spring 40 see Fig. 6) is a Wodge-shumd block of insulating ma im'ial 40A which normally rests in a notch of vim-l 32. As notched Wheel 32 moves from one order position to the next, the block is cammed out of one notch and drops into the next following notch, at the same time momentarily closing contacts 40 and 4|. The momentary closing of these contacts initiates operation of the printing mechanism through a time delay circuit.

The time delay circuit is a conventional type employing a condenser C and a variable resistor Res (see Fig. 9). By changing the setting of the resistor Res, the discharge time of the condenser C may be varied over a considerable range. A delay in time is selected of suihcient duration to prevent printing as the. handle 23 passes over an undesired order space on its way to a desired location. As explained later, the printing operation is delayed until the condenser C becomes discharged. The energizing of the time delay means blocks operation from the notation batch or whistle contacts until the engine order has been recorded. In other words, engine orders have the right-of-way.

Means is provided for placing both the bridge and the engine room stations back in synchronism with their respective type carriers in the event that they should in some way get out of step. As will be noted from an examination of Figs. 5 and 6, both the notched wheel 32 which is geared to the symbol wheel 38 for the \bridge and the notched wheel 83 which is similar to wheel 32 and is geared to the engine room symbol wheel 39, are provided, respectively, with pairs of pins 80 and 8| which coact with the left-hand and right-hand edges of related frame parts 32.. With either pin 80 in engagement with the leftband edge of its related frame part 82, this normally represents the order for full astern. When either pin 3| engages the right-hand edge of its related frame part 32, this represents the order for full ahead. Synchronism is established positively by moving the telegraph handle 23 (Fig. 7) of either station rapidly from one extreme order position to the other. When either pin 80 or ill engages its related frame part 82, its related notched wheel 83 or 32 is halted and is thus soon aligned with its respective handle 23.

The record tape 4 (Fig. 4) is furnished from a supply roll 42, around roller 43, under tensioning spring 44, between typewheel assembly and printing hammer 48, around roller 41, between feed roll 48 and pressure roll 49 to take-up roll 50. The printing mechanism 53a is a conventional arrangement whereby a printing hammer 46 is drawn back by a solenoid BI and tripped. The printing ribbon is moved to a new position after each operation of the hammer by pawl 54 (Fig. 6) pivoted to bar 52 which is pivoted to the hammer tripping lever 53. To compensate for differences in the peripheral travel of take-up roll 5|] as it becomes filled, a yielding drive is furnished for the take-up ratchet. A take-up drive pawl 56 is mounted on lever 51 which is pivoted on stud 58. When the solenoid BI is energized, tooth 6| on bar 62, which is pivoted to hammer tripping lever 53, rotates lever 51 counterclockwise against the pull of spring 59, moving the driving pawl 56 back to a new tooth on the ratchet 55. When the solenoid is deenergized, bar 62 returns to its normal position and spring 59 tends to return lever 51 and pawl 58 to the position in which they are shown. If the amount of tape on the take-up roll makes the peripheral travel greater than is required to take up the used tape, the tension on the tape overcomes the power of spring 59,

illustrated in Fig. 5, the arrangement of typewheels starting from the rear is as follows: whistle symbol segment l0, bridge telegraph order symbol wheel 38, engine room telegraph order symbol wheel 39, day wheel 63, hour wheel 64,

,minutes tens wheel 65, and minutes units wheel '8. Printed records are made on the left hand half of the record tape 4 (Fig. 1). The right half is reserved for manual entries as mentioned hereinbefore.

A specimen record is shown in Fig. 10 with all the various orders and signals recorded in symbol form, An interpretation of those orders is given below by number with reference to Fig. 10:

(1) Last order of previous day, both telegraphs t t p;

Stand by transmitted to engine room;

(3) Stand by repeated back to bridge;

(4) Whistle test;

(5, 6) Manual entry;

(7) Full ahead to engine room;

(8) Full ahead back to bridge;

(9-24) Other combinations of changes "in telegraph orders between bridge and engine room;

(25, 26) Manual entry;

(27-29) Warning blasts on whistle for passenger;

(30) "Slow astern bridge to engine room;

(31) Slow astern" repeated back to bridge;

(32) Whistle blast-ship coming out of Slip;

(33) Stop-bridge to engine room;

(34) "Stop repeated back to bridge;

(35) "Slow ahead--bridge to engine room;

(36) Slow ahead repeated back to bridge;

(37) Half ahcadbridge to engine room;

(38) "Half ahead repeated back to bridge.

It will be noted that each individual order is recorded when given (after the slight time delay), so that a record of the position of the telegraph handles at each station at, the time of each order or signal is determined beyond question.

Wiring diagram The circuits involved in the operations described above will now be explained (with reference to Fig. 9).

Notation hatch-When contacts 9 close, a circuit is completed from the negative side or the D. C, line through contacts R la, relay R5, the contacts 61, to the positive side of the D. C. line, energizing relay R5 which closes contacts RM and contacts RED. 4

When contacts Rba close, a circuit is completed from the negative side or the line through the notation h'atch contacts 9, contacts R411, contacts R5a, relay R4, to the positive side of the line. Relay R4 is energized and contacts Rla open while contacts R lb close, the latter keeping relay R4 energized. (Note: The contacts Rib are adnotation hatch contacts 9, contacts Rla, relay R2. print knockofl' contacts 81, to the positive side of the line, energizing relay R2 and closing contacts RM and contacts R21). 7

The closing of the R211 contacts completes a circuit from the negative side of the line through contacts R211, contacts R52), relay R5, contacts 61, to the positive side of the line. Relays R2 and R5 are now held energized through contacts R24: since contacts Rla are open.

Relay R4 is held energized by two difierent holding circuits at this time, i. e., through contacts Rlb as described above, and through contacts R211 and contacts R511.

when contacts R21) close, a circuit is established from the negative side oI- the D. C. line through the normally closed contacts Rib, con- Y tacts R21), print relay, to the positive side of the D. 0. line, energizing the .print relay and closing contacts 15a.

The closing of contacts 15a energizes the print solenoid 5|, connecting it across the D. C. line. The action of the print solenoid trips the hammm to cause printing, feeds the record tape, advances the ink ribbon, and opens the contacts 61 momentarily.

When the contacts 61 open, the holding clr cults to relay R2 and relay R5 are broken, and they become deenergized. Relay R4, however, remains energized through its second holding circuit (through contacts Rlb) until the notation hatch contacts 9 are opened. This prevents more than one printing operation being made for each closing of the contacts 9.

Whistle records.--When the whistle contacts H close, a circuit is established from the negative side of the line through contacts 14, normally closed contacts Ilb, relay R3, contacts 61, to the positive side of the line. Relay R3 is energized and contacts R311 and contacts Rlb close.

The closing of contacts R30 establishes a circuit from the negative side of the line through contacts I4, contacts l'lb, contacts Ria, relay H, to the positive side or the line. Relay I! is now energized and contacts Open While contacts I'la close. (Note: Contacts Ila are adjusted to close before contacts I'Ib open when relay i7 is energized.) The whistle symbol is, controlled by the armature of relay IT, is moved into printing position.

The closing of contacts R3b completes a circuit from the negative side of the line through contacts 14, contacts Ila, contacts R3a, contacts R3b, relay R2, contacts 61, to the positive side of the line. Relay R2 is energized, and contacts RZa and contacts R2b are closed.

When contacts R2a close, holding circuits are established for relays R2, R3, and Il. Relay I1 is also held energized by a second holding circuit through contacts Ila and contacts H.

When contacts R22) close, a circuit is completed from the negative side of the line through contacts Rib, contacts R2b, print relay, to the positive side of the line, energizing the print relay and closing contacts 15a. The closing of contacts 15a energizes the print solenoid 5|, tripping the printing hammer, feeding the record tape and the ink ribbon, and opening the con tacts 61, the latter dropping out relays R2 and 4- ascents circuit is completed through relay l-tl, also charging the condenser C in parallel with relay Rl. Relay BI is energized, and contacts Rlb open while contacts Rla close.

The closing of contacts Rla provides a path for energizing relay R2 from the negative side of the line through contacts Ria, relay R2, contacts 61, to the positive side of the line. Contacts Rm and contacts R2?) are consequently closed. The contacts R20, provide a holding circuit for relay R2 through contacts 61.

When contacts 40 and H open, the relay RI 'remains energized by the condenser C, but the latter begins to discharge through the resistor Res and the coil of relay RI. (Note: Since the condenser C is charged, relay RI will be held energized for a period of time dependent upon the capacity of condenser C and the constants of the leakage path for discharging condenser C, i. e., the winding of relay RI and the parallel resistor Res.)

When condenser C becomes discharged to a point where the voltage supplied by it across relay RI falls below a critical value, the armature of relay RI will release and open contacts Rla, at the same time closing contacts Rib.

Since contacts RZb remain closed (R2 being energized by its holding circuit) a circuit is established from the negative side of the line through contacts Rib, contacts RZb, print relay, to the positive side of the line, and the print relay becomes energized thereby closing contacts 75a.

When contacts 15a close, the print solenoid 5! becomes energized. as before, and printing", record tape feeding, ink ribbon feeding, and dis abling of contacts 51 are effected. With contacts 61 open all relay holding circuits become broken, and all circuits are returned to their normal condition.

Elsbert motor operaiimi.---'1his particular type of motor has a six pole wound stator with one common and three point wires. The rotor is eight pole with no windings. As illustrated in Fig. 7, coils a and a are energized and the flux is car ried across rotor poles w and If windings b and b are also energized, the rotor will be biased counterclockwise so that, when windings a and a are deenerglzed, the rotor will move counterclockwise until poles at and :c are centered in the magnetic field between stator poles b and 1).

Conversely, if windings c and c (instead of b and b) are energized and windings a and a" are then deenergized, the rotor will be first biased and then moved clockwise until rotor poles are centered in the magnetic field between stator poles c and c.

The commutatos used with the motor must make a circuit with one contact before it bream the circuit with the previous contact to maintain control of the rotor.

While there has been. shown and d pointed out the fundamental llili es of the invention as applied to a single vodiilcation, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions andv changes in the form and details of the device illustrated tion may be made by those s' Without departing iron]. the 5131'. t oi the invention. It is the intention therei to limited. only as indicatcafi by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed i. In a ships to stations at separa tion including a signal cribe d and no a1 sending able to send any one 01 a number of preselected signals to the other station; a recorder common to both stations and comprising a separate type carrier for each station and each type carrier having spaced type thereon corresponding in number and character to the diiferent signals sendable by its respective station; means responsive to the positioning of either signal device to send a signal, for moving its respective type carrier'so as to bring the character corresponding to the signal sent into printing position; and means responsive to the actuation of said first-named means for effecting printing from both of said carriers so that each time a signal is sent by either station, both such signal and the signal position of the sending device of the other station are recorded.

2. In a ships telegraph system comprising two carrier for each station and each type carrier having spaced type thereon corresponding in number and character to the different signals sendable by its respective station; means responsive to the positioning of either signal device to send a si nai, for moving its respective type carrier so as to bring the character corresponding to the signal sent into printing position; platen means for said carriers; and means responsive to the movement of either sending device to a signal position for effecting relative printing movement between said platen means and both of said carriers so that each time a signal is sent by either station, both such signal and the signal position of the sending device of the other station are recorded.

3. In a ship's telegraph system comprising two stations at separate locations and with each station including a signal sending device positionableto send any one of a number of preselected signals to the other station, a recorder common to both stations and comprising a plurality of printing elements having time-indicating characters thereon; time-controlled means for driving said elements to move into printing position the characters indicating the correct time; a separate type carrier for each station and each type carrier having spaced type thereon corresponding in number and character to the different signals sendable by its respective station; means responsive to the positioning of either signal device to send a signal, for moving its respective type carrier so as to bring the character corresponding to the signal sent into printing position; platen means for said time-indicating printing elements and said type carriers; and means responsive to the movement of either signal device to a signal position for effecting relative printing movement between said platen means and said time-indicating printing elements and between said platen means and both of said type carriers so that each time a signal is sent by either station, the time of sending the signal and both such signal and the signal positions of the sending device of the other station are all recorded.

i. In a ships telegraph system comprising two stations a, separate locations and with each station including a signal sending device positionable to send any one of a number of preselected signals to the other station, a recorder common to bot ii stations and comprising a separate type car-- ri. ior each station and each type carrier having an red type thereon corresponding in number and diameter to the diilerent signals sendable by its respective station; a coupling connecting each type carrier for synchronous movement with its respective signal sendingdevice, so that as either signal device; ispositloned for sending a signal its respective type carrier is moved to bring into printing position the type corresponding to the signal sent; and means responsive to the positioning or either signal sending device to send a signal, for eiIecting printing from'both of said carriers so that each time a signal is sent from either station, both such signal and the signal position of the sending device of the other station are recorded.

5. In a ship's telegraph'system comprising two stations at separate locations and with each station including a signal sending device positionable to send any one or a number of preselected signals to the other station, a recorder common to both stations and comprising a plurality of printing elements thereon; time-controlled means for driving said elements to move into printing position the characters indicating the correct time; a separate type carrier for each station and each ype carrier having spaced type thereon corre pending in number and character to the different signals sendable by its respective station; a coupling having time-indicating characters connecting each type carrier for synchronous movement with its respective signal sending device so that as either signal device is positioned for sending a signal, its respective type carrier is moved to bring into printing position the type corresponding to the signal sent; and means responsive to the positioning of either signal sending device to send a signal, for efiecting printing from both of said carriers and from said timeindicating characters so that each time a signal is sent from either station, said signal, the time of sending said signal, and the signal position of the sending device of the other station are all recorded.

6. In a ships telegraph system comprising two stations at separate locations and each station including a signal sending device movable to any one of a number of preselected signal positions to send diiferent signals to the other station, a recorder common to both stations and comprising a separate type carrier for each station and each type carrier having spaced type corresponding in number and'character to the different signals sendable by its respective station; means responsive to the moving of either signal device to send a signal, for moving its respective type character into position for printing the character corresponding to the signal sent; mechanism initiated in its operation by movement of either of said signal devices to a new signal position, for effecting printing from both of said carriers; and time-delay means for rendering said mechanism ineilective until a predetermined period of time after a signal device occupies a new signal position.

7. In a ships telegraph system comprising two stations at separate locations and each station including a signal sending device movable to any one of a number of preselected signal positions to send different signals to the other station, a recorder common to both stations and comprising'a separate type carrier for each station and each type carrier having spaced type corresponding in number and character to the different signals sendable by its respective station; a coupling connecting each type carrier for synchronous movement with its respective signal sending device, so that as either signal device is moved into position for sending a signal, its respective type character is moved to bring into printing position the type corresponding to such signal; mechanism initiated in its operation by movement at either signal device to a new signal position ior eilecting printing from both or said carriers; and time-delay means for rendering said mechanism ineffective until a predetermined period of time after a signal device occupies a pew signal position.

8. In a ships telegraph system comprising tw stations .at separate-locations and each station including a signal sending device movable to any one of a number of preselected signal positions to send dillerent signals to the otherstation, a recorder commonto both stations and comprising a plurality of printing elements having time indicating characters thereon; time-controlled means for driving said elements to move into printing positionthe characters indicating the correct'time; a separate type carrier for each station and each type carrier having spaced type corresponding in number and character to the different signals sendable byits respective station; means responsive to the moving or either signal device to send a signal, for moving its respective type carrier into position for printing the character corresponding to the signal sent;

mechanism initiated in its operation by movementof either signal device to a new signal position, Ior eflecting printing from both or said carriers and from said time-indicating characters; and time-delay means for rendering said mechanism ineffective until a predetermined period of time after a signal device occupies a new signal position.

9. In a ships telegraph, the combination with a plurality of separated control stations and at least one of said stations including a signal device movable for sending signals to another station and to any one of a number or dlilerent signal-sending positions arranged in a preselected order; of a recorder comprising a type carrier having a plurality of spaced type thereon corresponding in number and order to said signal positions and the type being of distinctive character to represent, respectively, the different signal positions; a coupling connecting said type carrier tor synchronous movement with said device so that as said device is moved to a signal position the type corresponding to ,said position is moved into printing position; platen means for said type carrier; mechanism initiated in its operation by movement of said device to any signal position, for eflecting relative printing movement between said carrier and said platen means; and time order, of a recorder comprising a type carrier having a plurality of spaced type thereon corresponding in number and order to said signal positions and the type being of distinctive character to represent, respectively, the different signal positions; a coupling connecting said type carrier for synchronous movement with said device so that as said device is moved to a signal position the type corresponding to said position is moved intO printing position; platen means for said type carrier; and mechanism effecting relative printing movement between said carrier and said platen means and comprising an electric circuit; an actuating printing relay operated by said circuit, a first switch in said circuit operated by said coupling means and moved thereby to closed position each time said device is moved from one to another signal position, a second switch in said circuit, and tim delay means actuated after said device occupies a signal position a predetermined time for closing said second switch.

11. In a ship's telegraph system, a recorder comprising an enclosing casing; a type carrier within said casing and having a plurality of spaced type thereon corresponding in number and character to the different signals sent by the telegraph; means responsive to the reception of a signal from the telegraph for moving into printing position the type corresponding to such signal; said casing having an opening therein alongside said type carrier; means supporting a record tape for movement beneath said opening so that manual entries can be made on the tape and for supporting such tape in printing posiiton with respect to said carrier; a hatch cover for said opening; and means responsive to the opening of such cover for eflecting printing engagement with said carrier and said tape.

12. In .a ship's telegraph system, a recorder comprising an enclosing casing; a plurality of corelated printing elements within said casing and having time indicating characters thereon; time controlled means for driving said elements to move into printing position the characters indicating the correct time; a type carrier within said casing adjacent said time driven elements and having a. plurality of spaced type thereon corresponding in number and character to the ditferent signals received from the telegraph; means responsive to the reception of a signal from the telegraph for moving into printing position the type corresponding to such signal; said casing having an opening therein alongside said time driven printing elements and said type carrier; means supporting a record tape for movement beneath said opening so that manual entries can be made thereon and supporting such tape in printing relation with said time elements and said carrier; a hatch cover for said opening; and means responsive to the opening oi such cover to effect printing engagement between said tape and said carrier and said time elements.

13. In a ships telegraph system comprising a plurality of stations with at least one of said stations including a signal sending device positionable to send to another station any one of a number of preselected signals, a recorder comprising a plurality of co-related printing elements having time-indicating characters thereon; time-controlled means for driving said elements to move into printing position the characters indicating the correct time; a type carrier having a plurality of spaced type thereon corresponding in number and character to the different signals sent out by said sending device; means for moving said carrier so that the type in printing position always corresponds to the signal position of said device; a second type carrier having a distinctive type to designate the ships whistle; and mechanism responsive to the sounding of the ships whistle to move said second carrier into printing position and for effecting printing from said time driven elements, said first named type carrier and said second carrier,

ALFRED L. SPRECKER. 

